I just finished up this guy, a GE L610, and am curious as to just what the cabinet is made of. I thought it was plastic when I got it, but after cleaning it up it appears to be Bakelite - but white? Radio Museum says it is plastic, not Bakelite.

In a concealed location apply a red hot pin, the oder should be of phenol if it is a thermosetting resin like Bakelite and should not melt but char. If it is any thermoforming resin, it will melt and give a styrene glue like oder.

A "Q"-tip with acetone or lacquer thinner will melt most thermoforming plastics, whereas same solvent on Bakelite like thermosetting resin will do nothing.

http://www.sdplastics.com/plastics.html

YMMV

Chas

Bakelite was made in many different colors.

I applied a soldering iron tip to an inconspicuous spot. It did not melt, but charred and smelled awful, almost like burning hair. So, I guess Bakelite. It really looks nice.
Thanks all.

The cabinet material is known as Plaskon, not bakelite.

David

Thanks for that. I Googled Plaskon and learned a lot. It does indeed allow some light through, I can dimly see the pilot lamp through it.

I noticed that the inside of the top of the cabinet was painted "silver", which had peeled from heat over the 35Z5 and 50L6 (supposed to be a 35L6). So I applied some aluminum tape to reflect some of the heat. Fortunately the cabinet has not endured any damage.

It was essentially a freebie. I bought a Sentinel 68B from a fellow, and he asked if I wanted this one included since he was going to toss it. It looked like crap, but what a jewel.

FYI I have seen strange changes to the color of a white Plaskon" cabinet when exposed to the sun. Have set out a number of such radios at an outdoor radio flea. A tag remained on top of the cabinet for several hours. At the end of the day there was a "shadow" on the top of the top of the white radio which now looked "dirty".

I set the radio aside for several months and the radio, apparently, faded again and the image of the tag disappeared. The cabinet returning to its original, lighter color...